Alpine Communications Blog

Mike, one of Alpine's techy techs, is excited to take home is new Panasonic 32" LCD HDTVs with iPod Entertainment Kit.  We love to see excited customers!  He'll be back to let us know how he likes his new HDTV.

Wow, it's been a busy week so far at Alpine Communications!  Yesterday we received the new Flip Ultra ($149.95) and Flip Ultra HD  (199.95) camcorders in yellow, pink, white, and black.  You have to try them to see how easy they are to use!  Chris, our GM, was the first employee to purchase a Flip Video camera and his family's testimonials sold the rest of us on the product.  Flip Video Ultra's are (in my opinion) one of the most stylish and fun camcorders on the market and take amazing quality videos.  Plus no extra software is required, it's built right into the camera and it's incredibly simple to share and create videos that you take.  Flip Video cameras are a must-have this summer for family vacations, ball games, birthday parties, and just every-day fun. 

Today we just received netbooks (tiny laptop computers) from Samsung and Asus. The new Panasonic 32" LCD HDTVs with iPod Entertainment Kit and Pansonic Blu-ray Disk Players are finally here.  Stop in and check out the new Flip Videos, laptops, computer accessories, Nintendo Wiis, and more at the Alpine Retail Center in Elkader.  Don't forget, tomorrow is our Summer Kick-Off Celebration from 4:00-6:30 p.m. with free hot dogs and pop for everyone!

Alpine Communications' business office will be closed Monday, May 25th in observance of Memorial Day.

For Emergency Telephone Troubles - Call Alpine at (563) 245-4000 or  1-800-635-1059 and leave a message with a description of the problem. An Alpine Technician is on call 24-hours a day, 7 days a week and will be paged.

For Internet Troubles - Call Alpine Internet Technical Support at 1-888-264-2908. Technical Support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

For SecureIT services or Online Backup Troubles - Call SecurityCoverage Technical Support at 1-877-373-3320. Support and assisted installation for SecureIT and SecureIT Plus is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Have a happy and safe holiday! Read more about the history of Memorial Day.

A rise in identity theft cases in the past few years has drawn attention to the topic of prevention. As more people subscribe to high-speed Internet , criminals are finding more ways to get your information. As the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Please join us in welcoming Tina Finley as Alpines newest employee. Tina started as the Accounting Assistant in March. Some of her duties include purchasing, receiving, assisting with general accounting duties, and you will likely see her at the Post Office each morning and afternoon. Tina graduated from Iowa State with a degree in Child and Family Services.

Alpine is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2009 Alpine Communications Scholarship. A total of $2,000.00 was awarded to four graduating seniors who reside in an Alpine Communications telephone exchange and attend Central, MFL MarMac, Valley, or Clayton Ridge High School.

The students were asked to write a paragraph on how telecommunications technology has or will benefit them in the future. Consideration was given to students seeking higher education in the fields of telecommunications technology, communications, or computer science.

Alpine extends a special thank you to the local Dollars for Scholars program and each school district's high school guidance counselor for assisting in the selection and administration of our scholarship.

A $500 scholarship was awarded to each of the following students: 

• Central High School - Jake McGreal
• Valley High School - Naomi Hanson
• MFL MarMac High School - Allison Ries
• Clayton Ridge High School - Kimberly Nelson

After a long winter, spring has finally sprung. Are you planning to tackle a big landscaping project soon? Alpine Communications reminds you to pick up your phone before you pick up your shovel.

Many utility services such as phone, cable television, sewer, gas, water, and electricity come to your home via underground lines. In certain locations, these lines may be close to the surface and can be accidentally damaged by even shallow digging in your yard - and that can result in interruptions to service throughout your neighborhood. As a result, you may incur fines or fees to repair the damages.

It is especially important to call Iowa One Call damage to fiber optic cables can cost thousands of dollars to repair. When you call 811 at least 48 hours in advance, your local service providers will be dispatched to locate and mark these lines. It not only saves you time and protects you from potentially costly damage, it's required by law. Every digging project, no matter what size, requires a call. By calling Iowa One Call, you can proceed with your landscaping without disrupting necessary utilities or compromising safety for yourself and others.

As one of your local service providers,we thank you for your cooperation!

ZAP Portable Energy Solutions Available at the Alpine Retail Center

$22.95 ZAP Mini Lithium Recharge-It-All Battery

• Powers and charges cell phone, MP3/iPod, iPhone, other media devices and USB charged mobile electronics 
• Cell tips included: Motorola/Mini USB, Nokia New, LG New, Samsung New

$16.95 ZAP Universal AC Adapter USB
$15.95 ZAP Universal DC Car Charger USB

• Powers and chargers Blackberry, cell phones, Bluetooth devices, iPhone, iPod, USB powered devices, MP3 players, etc.
• Universal AC adapter with USB output

$29.95 Microsoft Wireless Optical Mouse

• Wireless Optical Mouse is compact and ambidextrous
• Features a small receiver that conveniently stows away under the mouse when not in use, automatically turning off power and conserving battery life.

Visit the Alpine Retail Center in Elkader for all of your technology needs.

Race in and join the fun as we kick-off summer with free hot dogs and pop (while supplies last) at the Alpine office in Elkader on Thursday, May 28th from 4:00 - 6:30 p.m.  If you can't join us, listen to KCTN FM 100 as they broadcast live from Alpine Communications.  

The Alpine Pit Crew will on hand to help you super-charge your Internet connection, tune up your computer with new TotalTech Services, and answer Internet and email questions.

TeamINS Racing's rear engine dragster (pictured above) will be on display and driver  Donald Kimm will be available for autographs.  Don't miss this opportunity to see this hot rod up close and personal!

Alpine Communications Awards $4,900 in Grants to Local Organizations

May 14, 2009 - Alpine Communications Charitable Giving Program awards were presented to local non-profit groups that received grant monies in the first quarter of 2009.  Alpine General Manager Chris Hopp said, "The grants this quarter helped put technology in the hands of our youth, restore our heritage, preserve our environment through education, and promote the communities we serve. We commend these organizations for such worthy causes."

• $1,000 to Motor Mill Foundation of Clayton County to help fund the replacement of the deteriorated roof on both the Motor Mill and Inn and the replacement of two missing chimneys on the Mill;
• $1,000 to Guttenberg Heritage Society to assist in purchasing posts and an electronic sign to educate and engage the community concerning events and activities;
• $600 to Guttenberg Public Library to purchase a one-year subscription to World Book Online Reference Center with access through the library’s website;
• $500 to Central Community Schools to buy 4 Flip Video Ultra Cameras to create podcasts to put on the school website that will promote the school’s initiatives, activities, and events to the community;
• $600 to Friends of the Elgin Public Library to provide both a summer reading program and Check It Out! After school program for children ages preschool through 6th grade;
• $700 to Decorah Public Library to purchase two cameras for the DigiKids program which offers technology/communications programs that teach kids about using a digital camera, manipulating images on a computer, communicate with the community;
• $500 to Clayton County SWCD to purchase a Ruby Raindrop costume to make water quality and soil erosion more understandable to youth.

The Alpine Communications Charitable Giving Program was created in September 2004 as an avenue for non-profit organizations to apply for funds which will address challenges our society faces. Alpine Communications invites public and private non-profit agencies to visit www.alpinecom.net to review the new Alpine Communications Charitable Giving Program grant application. The new application form will make applying for funding simple and efficient. Grant applications for the next quarter should be submitted to Alpine by May 31, 2009.